This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Escape. Thirty minutes after fuel was placed in the vehicle, it caught fire in the contact's driveway. The fire department arrived and extinguished the fire. A report was filed. There were no injuries and the vehicle was destroyed. The cause of the failure was unknown. The failure mileage was 103,000.
With no warning the automatic transmission on our Escape failed completely at 44,130 miles. So far, no financial assistance has been offered by Ford or the repairing dealer dispite attempts by me to get relief for the $2700 repair bill! we have had a loud noise coming from the drivetrain since about 18,000 miles and had it checked at 25,000 by our local Ford dealer. The dealer insisted that it was only tire noise...which while very sceptical, we accepted with the caveat that when we eventually replaced the tires, the noise would be gone our we expected the vehicle to be repaired at no charge. Since the transmission's very premature failure, we have revisited the powertrain noise as we now suspect its source may have caused the transmission failure. Both front wheel bearings have been changed, the wheels and tires have been substituted and the very loud noise continues. Two Ford dealers have inspected the vehicle and no one yet has an idea of what the source of the noise is now! this truck is a true lemon and I think Ford should be stepping up to the plate to fix and pay for this problem as well as all or most of the transmission repair!!!!
Stiff accelerator pedel. Cannot make a smooth acceleration from a complete stop. The pedal doesn't seem to "give" until it's pushed too much. When it's pushed too much. There is a surge of acceleration and usually the tires just spin, whether it's raining, snowing or just plain dry out.
On three separate occasions while driving between 35-40 mph the car stalled in traffic. The engine light came on, the oil light came on and I lost power steering and power brakes. Each incident occured after the car had not been driven for a long period. The first time was after I had been at work all day and was going home. The second and third times were first thing in the morning after the car had been running approximately 10 minutes. The dealer and manufacturer have been notified.
- Colorado Springs, CO, USA
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I was driving in afternoon traffic yesterday when my car went from 40 mph to 20 mph. Oil light and emissions light came on, and then the car stalled and rolled to a stop. I turned the engine off, and it restarted after five minutes. I made it home. It was quite scary as I was sitting in traffic. I had heard from someone in a shopping center about this problem with their 2001 model. Upon research on your site today, I am alarmed at the number of occurrences and that this is a serious problem. I will be taking to the dealership today for repair. I am concerned that Ford has not done anything about this after reading how wide-spread this is. I am terrified to drive it now as I have a two year old daughter and am six months pregnant.
Consumer stated that white gelatinous material was leaking from multiple areas of vehicles locks and crevices onto the interior upholstery of vehicle, dealer stated that lubricant was applied to the various internal locking mechanisms and that the excess was settling by leaking out of crevices and seams, dealer wiped off excess lubricant.
On several occasions, while traveling on a steep curvy road at 25 mph, vehicle lost power brakes and power steering, consumer had to use both feet on brake pedal to control speed, oil and emission lights came on, consumer was able to turn off street onto parking lot and slow down enough to avoid crashing, engine was still on when vehicle came to a stop, dealer reflashed PCM and replaced mass airflow sensor, throttle body and iac solenoid.
I was driving @ about 40 mphon sat 1-26-2002 when the engine stopped and the dash lights for the engine and oil came on. I coasted to a stop and turned off the heater, radio, and ignition and put the car in park. Ir started again but I was concerned that there was a problem. I brought the car to williams Ford(739 front St. P.O. Box 220, berea, oh 44017) on Monday Jan 29, 2002 to report the engine failure. The service advisor looked under the hood and told me that "the car just burped". I asked if there was something I could do to prevent this from occurring again and he told me that "the car just had to learn the way I drive". I questioned how an inanimate object without a brain could learn. He told me "oh yes, it does have a brain". I called another service advisor (ed) at williams Ford on Tuesday Jan 30 to explain the situation. He too assured me that "the car just sort of hiccupped". he also told me that the car was learning the way I drove. When I asked me to explain he said it was termed "adaptive idle strategy" and that it was because the car was new. I told him I have had other new cars that this has not happened to and asked if there was anything I could do to prevent this from happening again because I thought it was a safety issue. He said the computer was adjusting to the way I accerlate and decelerate and there was not anything I should do. I have since read that the NHTSA is investigating other Ford Escapes that the engines have stalled while driving and have needed to have the engines repaired/replaced. I am dissappointed that they did not care enough to run a diagnostic check on the car to assure me of the car's safety and repair/replace the engine if needed.
Consumer stated that white gelatinous material was leaking from multiple areas of vehicles locks and crevices onto the interior upholstery of vehicle, dealer stated that lubricant was applied to the various internal locking mechanisms and that the excess was settling by leaking out of crevices and seams, dealer wiped off excess lubricant.
Engine stalled while driving downhill. Was either braking or decelerating by letting up on gas. Check engine, airbag, and possibly oil lights came on. Power steering and brakes failed. Was able to pull off the road and stop vehicle with hand brake. Shifted vehicle into park and restarted. Had been driving for approx. 1/2 hour (15 miles). Weather was cool and clear.
2002 Escape stalled while coasting 35-40 mph down-hill. Engine, battery and oil lights illuminated on dash. Loss of power steering and breaks. Vehicle started up immediately after placing in "park" position. Dealership tested vehicle and found nothing out of the ordinary. Vehicle was 3 days old, 164 miles on odometer. This vehicle is the replacement to 2001 Escape that stalled 4 times while coasting. Dealer replaced fuel pump, electronic engine control (eec) relay on separate occasions. Vehicle still stalled. Dealership very "pro-active" and willing to assist by offering rental car while testing both vehicles.
Vehicle was going 45mph and stalled without warning. Consumer had only owned vehicle for 4 days. Dealer couldn't find a cause, but kept it to inspect further and gave consumer a loaner vehicle.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- The Colony, TX, USA